Essex mum jailed for 21 years after murdering her 14-month-old son and hiding from police

Essex mum jailed for 21 years after murdering her 14-month-old son and hiding from policeJurors heard the 36-year-old gave the toddler a fatal combination of milk and medication. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Catherine Mackinlay, News Reporter 18:44, Sat, Jun 6, 2026 Updated: 18:45, Sat, Jun 6, 2026 Emma Barnett has been found guilty of murdering her son (Image: Essex Police / SWNS)An Essex mother who murdered her 14-month-old son before hiding from police in the loft of her home has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years and seven days. Emma Barnett, 36, of Debden, was convicted of murdering her son, Oakley, following an 18-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court. Jurors heard she gave the toddler a fatal combination of milk and medication at their home in Chester Road in November 2024. window.scriptsToLoad.push({url:'https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=118222&vp_content=plembed3a6btjknzwqh&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v118222',triggeredBy:'tcfLoaded',delay:1500,containerId:'ovp-primis',title:"Primis player",beforeLoad:()=>{window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v118222"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}})},}) Sentencing Barnett on Friday, June 5, The Honourable Mr Justice Sweeting said there had been an element of "planning and preparation" to the killing and that she had "deprived Oakley of all the life he had ahead of him". Emergency services were called to the property after concerns were raised about the welfare of both Barnett and her young son. The pair had initially been reported missing. When officers searched the address, they discovered Barnett hiding in the loft with Oakley. Police became increasingly concerned for the toddler's safety after speaking to Barnett, who refused to open the loft hatch and c...